Active Electric Torsional Vibration Damper and Method to Realize the Same

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an active electric torsional vibration damper and the method to realize the same, and relates to the field of vibration reduction technology for rotating machinery. The damper comprises a fixed module, a relative rotating module, conducting coils, magnetic-field produced elements and so on. The present invention can be used to produce transient anti-torsion which is same in frequency, opposite in direction and corresponding in amplitude to achieve the effect of eliminating torsional vibration on the original shaft system. The present invention realizes a prominent effect of eliminating torsional vibration and substantially decreases the measures of vibration reduction adopted on the device itself as well.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of vibration reduction technology for rotating machinery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Torsional vibration, caused by periodic fluctuation that torsion loads generate about its average value, commonly exists in devices of rotating machinery. Generally, the torsion and the vibration thereof appear to have complex periodic characteristics which include a series of frequency components of harmonic in such situations as cars, combustion engines on ships, drive systems of propeller shafts, and bump mechanisms, etc. If some frequency component of such dynamic load tends to be equal with the natural torsional frequency of a structure, the mechanism will be subject to violent torsional resonances, which probably results in damage and failure of parts. Even for torsional vibration with small amplitude, which occurs in the most common current situation where the expected service life of the device may not be shortened, it is not allowed to neglect if taking account of harmful influences the device has on surrounding radiated vibration and noise.

Overall, the method to damp torsional vibration involves two kinds: one kind of the method deals with device structure itself, the important aspect of which is to desynchronize the natural torsional frequency of a structure and the frequency of torsional load through designing vibration characteristics. In addition, another aspect is function design as a measure, for instance, the cylinder increase on a combustion engine, which thus irons the torsional fluctuation and improves output power as well, obviously, however, increases the volume, weight and cost of the device with higher requirements of design and manufacturing.

The other kind of the method is to design a special additional device or for a special function, typically such as the combination of flywheel and torsional vibration damper, and this kind of method has comparatively low cost and is limited to change of main machinery.

Usually, the present practical torsional vibration damper is passive and elastic damped which utilizes elastic element to isolate vibration in such a way that rubber or viscous fluid resists vibration and dissipates frictional heat transferred from kinetic and mechanical energy. On the principle of structure, flywheel is generally divided into two parts which are connected with each other by elastic element and may relatively move to an elastic range and between which high damping material is filled. The biggest disadvantage of the solution is that the damping apparatus with relative fixed system characteristics is apparently unable to meet the high requirements under the circumstances that the torsional frequency and amplitude endured by modern device of rotating machinery rapidly change in a wide range.

In addition to the passive mode structure as said, the technology for semi-active one, the characteristic parameters of elastic element and damping element vary real-time within a range when needed, is developed, however, the observation on the actual effect applied on torsional vibration reduction is required.

Completely differing from two technology routes above, the invention belongs to category of method to eliminate vibration in active mode, which uses a control system to dynamically track multiple quantities of harmonics in torsional vibration, the frequency, the amplitude and the phase, provides said electric torsional vibration damper with drive current, impels it to produce the transient torsion, equal in frequency, opposite in phase, corresponding in amplitude, then the effect of eliminating torsional vibration is achieved. The method takes the advantage of advanced technology of modern integrated circuit and effective control theory, realizes a prominent effect of eliminating torsional vibration and substantially decreases the measures of vibration reduction adopted on the device itself as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims at providing an active electric torsion damper and a method to realize the same, which produces an anti-torsion by electromagnetic excitation that is opposite to torsional-vibration direction of the shaft system on rotating machinery, to eliminate the torsional vibration of the shaft system.

An active electric torsional vibration damper, characterized in that the damper comprises following components:

a fixed module fixed on a shaft system rigidly;

a relative rotating module fixed on the shaft system by spring elastically;

conducting coils fixed on either the fixed module or the relative rotating module; and

magnetic-field produced elements disposed on the fixed module without conducting coils or on the relative rotating module without conducting coils for producing an anti-vibration torsion by electromagnetic excitation.

Further, said damper comprises following technical features:

A brush is disposed on the shaft system to power said conducting coil.

Said fixed module has an X-shaped fixed structure with four extended branches, an arc conducting-coil frame is disposed between two adjacent branches, while another arc conducting-coil frame is disposed between opposite two adjacent branches.

At least one side of the conducting coil has the magnetic-field produced element to be disposed.

At least one space between two adjacent branches where no conducting coil exists has a fixed block for limiting rotating range of the relative rotating module to be disposed therein.

The relative rotating module is fixed on the shaft system by two springs located symmetrically about the rotating shaft system.

The magnetic-field produced elements can create magnetic fields which repel each other or attract each other on said conducting coil.

A method to realize the active electric torsional vibration damper comprising following steps:

Step 1, assemble conducting coils on either one of a fixed module or a relative rotating module, and assemble magnetic-field produced elements on other one to be compatible with the positions of the conducting coils respectively;

Step 2, assemble the fixed module and the relative rotating module on a shaft system, where the fixed module is rigidly fixed and the relative rotating module is elastically fixed by springs;

Step 3, a control system is assembled to detect torsional vibration on the shaft system by sensors thereof;

Step 4, the control system powers the conducting coil to produce an anti-torsion that is equal to a torsion of the shaft system in frequency, amplitude but is opposite in direction to eliminate the torsional vibration of the shaft system.

Further, fore-mentioned method comprises following technical feature:

Said fixed module is consisted by a fixed structure having a X shape with four extended branches, an arc conducting-coil frame is disposed between two adjacent branches, while another arc conducting-coil frame is disposed between the other branches on the opposite.

The magnetic-field produced element is disposed at least on one side of the conducting coil.

The relative rotating module is fixed on the shaft system by two springs located symmetrically about the rotating shaft system.

The magnetic-field produced elements can create magnetic fields which repel each other or attract each other on said conducting coil.

The advantages of said active electric torsional vibration damper are:

1, the effect of vibration reduction is produced within a broad range of frequency;

2, on the principle of design, only pure torsion is provided and neither additional radial force nor axial force, which is non-neglectable, is created on the shaft system;

3, great output torsion;

4, low damping; metal spring has a characteristic of lower damping so that the damper can produce output torsion as close to peak value as possible;

5, rare-earth permanent magnet materials are easily obtained;

6, reliable performance, low requirement of environment, oil resistance and dirt resistance; the operating temperature is near 100° C.;

7, compact structure so that the damper can be assembled either with flywheel which is on the object of vibration reduction or with its own;

8, appropriately, vent hole can be disposed on the shaft system of said damper (or shaft system of flywheel if the damper is assembled with flywheel), create air flow when rotating with shaft system, and cooling can result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referencing with following drawings, the present invention is explained in more detail.

FIG. 1 is an illustrating view showing the structure of the active electric torsional vibration damper according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the active electric torsional vibration damper according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustrating view showing the structure of conducting coil on the active electric torsional vibration damper according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the method to realize the active electric torsional vibration damper according to the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referencing what has shown in all accompanying drawings, the invention discloses an active electric torsional vibration damper mainly comprising relative rotating module I and fixed module II .

Said relative rotating module I and fixed module II are connected by a pair of springs 14, which can result in relative elastic rotation. The embodiment in which the springs 14 are ringed spiral is not limited but typical. The relative rotating module I comprises cored-ring 0, inner-ring 1, middle-ring 2, outer-ring 3, and ringed Neodymium Iron Boron magnets (NdFeB magnet) 4, 5, 6, 7. The cored-ring 0, the inner-ring 1, the middle-ring 2, the outer-ring 3 are fixed together by a pair of spoke bars 8 the center angle between which is 180°.

One embodiment in the present invention is that the magnetic-field produced elements are ringed NdFeB magnets 4, 5, 6, 7 which belong to permanent magnet, other embodiments involve realizing magnetic field by electromagnetic induction such as utilizing conducting coil to create magnetic field, etc.

Magnet 4 and magnet 5 are fixed outside the inner-ring 1 by bond or in other appropriate ways and symmetrically disposed between spoke bars 8. Similarly, magnet 6 and magnet 7 are fixed inside the outer-ring 3 by bond or in other appropriate ways and symmetrically disposed between spoke bars 8. Thus, magnet 4 and magnet 6, magnet 5 and magnet 7, respectively, are separated by middle-ring 2 and disposed opposite each other, and the magnetic-field direction of the magnets is radial on the circle.

On the structure mentioned above, magnetic-field produced elements are disposed on both sides of said conducting coils 11, 12, in addition, magnetic-field produced element alone can be disposed either inside or outside.

The fixed module II comprises a pair of ringed ferrules 9, 10, conducting coils 11, 12 winding and being fixed on the ringed ferrules, and an X-shaped fixed bracket 13. The ferrules 9, 10 are disposed respectively around the middle-ring 2 and symmetrically between the spoke bars 8. The inside of the ferrules completely disconnect with the middle-ring 2 so that the ferrules are unrestrained to move relative to the middle-ring 2. That's the reason why the relative rotating module I is able to rotate relative to the fixed module II on the electric torsional vibration damper.

Conducting coil 11 winds tightly and is fixed on the ferrule 9 by bond, and conducting coil 12 winds tightly and is fixed on the ferrule 10 by bond. The structure like this makes two sides of each set of copper coil located in the magnetic-field air-gaps which are formed between said magnets and middle-ring 2 and are in ringed radial direction, and the winding direction of copper coil, which is also the direction of current, is perpendicular to that of magnetic field. Said ferrules are required to choose non-magnetic materials one of which is copper, aluminum, or plastic.

To dispose the ferrule 10 around the middle-ring 2, the middle-ring 2 can be split at the spoke bars 8. First, put the ferrule 10 outside and around the middle-ring 2, then, fix the middle-ring 2 on the spoke bars 8 by bolts.

Besides above components, other components of said damper include a fixed block 15, a spindle 16, rolling bearings 17, a brush 18, and spring retainers 19, 20.

On the X-shaped fixed bracket 13, at least one space between two adjacent branches where no conducting coil exists has a fixed block for limiting rotating range of the relative rotating module I to be disposed therein.

The fixed block 15 is fixed on the middle-ring 2 near the spoke bar 8 to limit the movement of ferrule and prevent the ferrule from impacting spoke bar 8 when overloaded.

Actually, spindle 16 is one part of the shaft system of the rotating machinery which needs vibration reduction. Rolling bearings 17 support cored-ring 0 on the spindle 16 so that said relative rotating module I and the cored-ring 0 thereof can rotate relative to the shaft system.

The brush 18 is fixed on the spindle 16 to ensure to provide conducting coils 11, 12 with variable alternating current when the whole system rotates at high speed.

Said fixed module II , which includes ferrules 9, 10 and said coils 11, 12, is fixed on the spindle 16 by the bracket 13 and rotates with the shaft system.

The pair of springs 14 fore-mentioned is symmetrically disposed outside the outer-ring. One end of each spiral spring is fixed on the outer-ring by spring retainer 19, the other end is fixed on the shaft system which has rigid connection with spindle by spring retainer 20 or is directly fixed on the spindle by extended structure.

Thus, with the assistance of rolling bearings 17, said main relative rotating module I can oscillate about its steady-state when springs 14 work relative to said fixed module II and the rotating shaft system in which it serves.

Key points on other structures of said torsional vibration damper are further described.

Served as examples rather than limiting, the directions of air-gap magnetic-field created by said magnet and middle-ring 2 are radial on the circle, and the relation between two magnetic fields created by magnetic-field produced elements which are oppositely disposed on two sides of said middle-ring 2 has two optional solutions:

The first one is that the magnetic fields produced by magnets which are disposed oppositely on two sides have opposite directions and repel each other, the second one is that the magnetic fields mentioned above have same directions and attract each other.

Explanations are given respectively as follows:

First explain the first solution. The magnetic fields created by magnets 4, 6 and separated by middle-ring 2 repel each other (opposite direction), similarly, the other group of magnetic fields created by magnets 5, 7 repel each other as well (opposite direction). To increase the magnetic flux density of air-gap between middle-ring 2 and magnets on two sides, high-performance Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) rare-earth permanent magnet is chosen as magnets and high-permeability soft magnetic material is chosen as middle-ring 2. The gaps between middle-ring 2 and magnets are small enough before contacts are made by either the inside of ferrule and middle-ring 2 or the outside of ferrule and magnets. When powering the copper coil around the ferrule outside the middle-ring 2, current directions of copper coil in the magnetic fields on two sides of the middle-ring 2 are opposite and the directions of the magnetic fields are opposite as well, that is, current of conducting coils 11, 12 in the magnetic field produced by magnet 4 is opposite to that in the magnetic field produced by magnet 6, and magnetic-field direction of magnet 4 is opposite to that of magnet 6 as well. Thus, according to Ampère's circuital law which describes the relation of magnetic flux density, electric current and Ampère's force, the forces which are applied by magnetic fields on conducting coils happen to be circumferential and in same direction, the amplitudes of the forces are direct proportional to current intensity, and the directions thereof vary with those of current.

As two sets of conducting coils 11, 12 are disposed with circular symmetry, the moving directions of electric current are controlled by connection between terminals of said two sets of copper coils so that peripheral forces created by those two sets of conducting coils 11, 12 in the magnetic field are appropriately equal in magnitude, opposite in direction and are both clockwise or counter-clockwise. Thus, a pure torsion of magnetic forces is formed whose value should be equal to the product obtained by multiplying the sum of peripheral forces created by one set of coil in the magnetic fields which are on its two sides by the diameter of midline on the middle-ring 2.

Acted upon by said pure torsion of magnetic field, said relative rotating module I rotates relative to said fixed module II and the shaft system, which results in the deformation of springs and then restoring forces are produced. The pair of said springs is disposed symmetrically on the periphery, hence, the forces created by the pair of said springs are equal in magnitude, opposite in direction, and are both clockwise or counter-clockwise, thus, a pure torsion of restoring forces is formed.

Here briefly explain the second solution. The magnetic fields created by magnets 4, 6 and separated by middle-ring 2 are same in direction and attract each other, similarly, the other group of magnetic fields created by magnets 5, 7 are same in direction and attract each other as well. Current of coils in the magnetic field produced by magnet 4 (or by magnet 5) is opposite to that in the magnetic field produced by magnet 6 (or by magnet 7), hence, the peripheral forces created by conducting coils between two magnetic fields are opposite in direction, thus, the torsion created by each set of coil should be equal to the product of peripheral force on one side of the coil multiplied by the width of coils on two sides, and the total pure torsion of magnetic force is the sum of torsion created by two sets of coils.

In addition, the present invention relates to a method to realize active electric torsional vibration damper. Referencing the above description and what has shown in FIG. 4, the method mainly comprises following steps:

Step 1, assemble conducting coils 11, 12 on either one of a fixed module II or a relative rotating module I , and assemble magnetic-field produced elements on other one to be compatible with the position of the conducting coils respectively;

Step 2, assemble the fixed module II and the relative rotating module I on rotating shaft system, where the fixed module II is rigidly fixed while the relative rotating module I is elastically fixed by springs;

Step 3, a control system is assembled to detect torsional vibration on the shaft system by sensors thereof;

Step 4, the control system power the conducting coil to produce an anti-torsion that is equal to a torsion of the shaft system in frequency, amplitude but is opposite in direction to eliminate the torsional vibration of the shaft system.

The sensor is deemed to be able to detect vibration on shaft system, for example, using vibration sensor, however, it is not limited to any other examples. Another example is adding torque sensor on the shaft system, etc. The operating principle of said active electric torsional vibration damper is summarized with specific embodiments:

The interaction between said conducting coils 11, 12 and magnets which are in the magnetic-field produced elements produces pure torsion of magnetic force on said spindle 16, and the magnitude and direction of the torsion can be controlled by those of electric current. The variable torsion is applied on said relative rotating module I , which results in vibration and another pure torsion on spindle 16 produced by deformation of said springs. According to Newton's principle on forces of action and reaction, above-mentioned torsion of magnetic force and torsion of spring force are also applied on above-mentioned fixed module II , and then transmitted to the shaft system of rotating machinery.

Thus, a control system is disposed. It can real-time detect amplitudes, frequencies, and phases of some prominent harmonic components of the torsional vibration on the shaft system of rotating machinery. Based on those, provide current signals which are same in frequency, corresponding in amplitude and phase, drive said torsional vibration damper to produce correspondent torsion of magnetic force and that of spring force, which are applied on the shaft system to generate torsional vibration with same frequency and opposite amplitude, to eliminate original torsional vibration of the shaft system.

The magnitude of output torsion is determined by the magnitude of peripheral Ampère's force created by magnetic field on current-carrying coil and its distance from the axis of spindle 16; while Ampère's force is direct proportional to magnetic flux density, the length of current-carrying coil which is perpendicular to magnetic-field direction in the magnetic field and current intensity. On said apparatus, the greater the diameter of the circle on the damper is, the greater will be the arm of moment, and the longer will be the arcs of magnet and ferrule, so, the longer will be the length of coil winding in the magnetic field; in addition, along the axis of shaft system, the greater thickness of the circle on the damper is, accordingly, thicken magnet, middle-ring 2 and ferrule, the longer will be the ferrule in the magnetic field, and multiple the length by increasing layers of coil; last, appropriate sectional size of copper coil can provide current with several Ampère so as not to overheat. These features make it possible to free to design output torsion of damper within a wide range, and benefit active vibration reduction on the shaft system from small size to large one and experimental requirement of torsional vibration.

The present invention is described above, but it is not limit to above embodiments. Other implementary embodiments based on the idea of the present invention also fall in the protection. 

1. An active electric torsional vibration damper comprising: a fixed module fixed on a shaft system rigidly; a relative rotating module fixed on the shaft system by spring elastically; conducting coils fixed on either the fixed module or the relative rotating module; and magnetic-field produced elements disposed on the fixed module without conducting coils or on the relative rotating module without conducting coils for producing an anti-vibration torsion by electromagnetic excitation.
 2. The active electric torsional vibration damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein a brush is disposed on the shaft system to power said conducting coil.
 3. The active electric torsional vibration damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed module has an X-shaped fixed structure with four extended branches, an arc conducting-coil frame is disposed between two adjacent branches, while another arc conducting-coil frame is disposed between opposite two adjacent branches.
 4. The active electric torsional vibration damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one side of the conducting coil has the magnetic-field produced element to be disposed.
 5. The active electric torsional vibration damper as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one space between two adjacent branches where no conducting coil exists has a fixed block for limiting rotating range of the relative rotating module to be disposed therein.
 6. The active electric torsional vibration damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the relative rotating module is fixed on the shaft system by two springs located symmetrically about the rotating shaft system.
 7. The active electric torsional vibration damper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic-field produced elements can create magnetic fields, which repel each other or attract each other on said conducting coil.
 8. A method to realize the active electric torsional vibration damper comprising following steps: Step 1, assemble conducting coils on either one of a fixed module or a relative rotating module, and assemble magnetic-field produced elements on other one to be compatible with the positions of the conducting coils respectively; Step 2, assemble the fixed module and the relative rotating module on a shaft system, where the fixed module is rigidly fixed and the relative rotating module is elastically fixed by springs; Step 3, a control system is assembled to detect torsional vibration on the shaft system by sensors thereof; Step 4, the control system powers the conducting coil to produce an anti-torsion that is equal to a torsion of the shaft system in frequency, amplitude but is opposite in direction to eliminate the torsional vibration of the shaft system.
 9. The method to realize the active electric torsional vibration damper as claimed in claim 8, wherein said fixed module is consisted by a fixed structure having a X shape with four extended branches, an arc conducting-coil frame is disposed between two adjacent branches, while another arc conducting-coil frame is disposed between the other branches on the opposite.
 10. The method to realize the active electric torsional vibration damper as claimed in claim 8, wherein the magnetic-field produced element is disposed at least on one side of the conducting coil.
 11. The method to realize the active electric torsional vibration damper as claimed in claim 8, wherein the relative rotating module is fixed on the shaft system by two springs located symmetrically about the rotating shaft system.
 12. The method to realize the active electric torsional vibration damper as claimed in claim 8, wherein the magnetic-field produced elements can create magnetic fields which repel each other or attract each other on said conducting coil.
 13. The active electric torsional vibration damper as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one side of the conducting coil has the magnetic-field produced element to be disposed. 